2018 Volkswagen Golf

2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF: A BRIGHT NEW LOOK ILLUMINATES THE AWARD-WINNING HATCHBACK

•Freshened styling and LEDs front and rear give the Golf a new visual signature
•MSRP starts at $20,910 for the Golf S with manual transmission
•New, larger MIB II touchscreen infotainment systems across all trims
•Six-year or 72,000-mile 'bumper-to-bumper' limited warranty beats its competitors' bumper to bumper coverage in years and mileage
•Room for five with a larger trunk than many midsize sedans

Herndon, VA (November 7, 2017) – It has been 41 years since Volkswagen's iconic hatchback debuted in the Únited States, and the seventh-generation Golf is the best Golf yet. Winning more than two-dozen awards following its 2015 debut, the Golf continues to represent a great value with a compelling combination of style, sporty handling, roominess, fuel efficiency, technology.

New for 2018
The 2018 Golf is available in two trims—S and SE. Visually refreshed front and rear, all Golf models feature newly-designed LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and striking LED taillights, along with new chrome highlights at the front and rear of the car.

The S trim adds automatic headlights with rain-sensing wipers as standard equipment for model year 2018, as well as a 6.5-inch Composition Color touchscreen infotainment display. SE models get an 8-inch, glass-covered Composition Media touchscreen infotainment display.

For the 2018 model year, Volkswagen Golf models in the Únited States will come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which can be transferred to subsequent owners throughout its duration.

Pricing for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf with a standard five-speed manual transmission starts at $20,910. The six-speed automatic transmission starts at $22,010. The destination charge for all Golf models is an additional $850.

Exterior


The Golf S comes equipped with 15-inch 'Lyon' aluminum-alloy wheels, wrapped in 195/65 all-season tires. The SE trims upgrade to 16-inch 'Toronto' wheels for 2018 with 205/55 tires. A panoramic tilting and sliding sunroof and fog lights are standard equipment on SE models, and automatic headlights with rain-sensing windshield wipers are now standard across the lineup.

Interior


From the start, the Golf has offered an expansive cabin for a vehicle of its size. There's 93.5 cubic feet of interior room, 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space up to the parcel shelf and 22.8 cu.-ft. to the roof. The versatility of the load space is enhanced by a trunk floor that can be moved up or down by 3.9 inches, while the 60:40 split backrest can be folded to give an almost flat cargo area that easily accommodates a full-size bicycle. With the rear seats folded, the Golf has 52.7 cu ft of cargo capacity.

The standard 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel emphasizes the driver-centric nature of the Golf, and on models with the 6-speed automatic, includes paddle shifters for increased driver control. This driver-centric design focus is also evident from the center stack, which is angled towards the driver—a trait frequently seen in premium luxury or performance vehicles. White backlighting for the controls further highlights this upscale ambience, as well as the use of premium materials throughout, such as soft-touch plastics and trim pieces available in chrome, aluminum, and piano-black finishes.

All models of the Golf feature a raft of comfort and convenience features often found on more expensive models. The Golf S has standard power windows (with one-touch up/down from all window switches) and exterior mirrors, along with Climatic® air conditioning, cruise control, rearview camera, leather-wrapped handbrake and shifter knob, and partial power front seats.

SE models are equipped with V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces; KESSY keyless access with push-button start; heated front seats and Voice Control.

MIB II Infotainment. As standard equipment across the Golf line, the MIB II infotainment system not only creates the foundation for the next generation of Volkswagen's Car-Net connected vehicle services platform, but also offers one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available in the automotive industry today.

The Golf S is equipped with the Composition Color unit, which features a new 6.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display. The infotainment system also offers SD card and ÚSB (one port) multimedia interfaces, as well as a rearview camera and standard Bluetooth® technology for compatible devices.

SE models are equipped with a glass-covered 8.0-inch Composition Media display with capacitive touchscreen. The new 8.0-inch display is not only brighter than previous generation of MIB II, it also offers better color reproduction, response time and improved viewing angles due to the switch to In-plane Switching (IPS) technology.

Composition Media units feature one ÚSB port, a JPEG viewer, SiriusXM Satellite Radio for a three month trial period, HD Radio, support for lossless audio file format (Free Lossless Audio Codec FLAC). It also has the ability to send and receive SMS text messages with Bluetooth with compatible phones and pair two phones simultaneously.

Volkswagen Car-Net. Volkswagen is committed to driving the development of more connected and intelligent vehicles, and the Volkswagen Car-Net connectivity system is a major element in achieving that goal. Features available through VW Car-Net are divided into three key areas: 'App-Connect,' 'Security & Service,' and 'Guide & Inform.'

VW Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration for compatible devices is standard on all Golf models. App-Connect offers users the ability to run select smartphone apps directly on the vehicle's display through services like Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®.

Equipped on Golf SE models, VW Car-Net Security & Service is a suite of elements that provides security features and also allows owners to access their VW remotely through vw.com/carnet as well as a smartphone app.

Customers purchasing new Volkswagen models equipped with VW Car-Net Security & Service will receive a no-charge, six-month trial subscription from Verizon Telematics. To extend the benefits of this system after the trial, customers can choose from a number of payment options: One year for $199, two years for $378, and three years for $540, or month-to-month for $17.99, plus applicable taxes and fees. App-Connect can be used with no additional charge and is not included as part of the subscription-based services.

Available VW Car-Net Security & Service features include Automatic Crash Notification, which can automatically notify an operator who can quickly contact first responders in the event of a collision; Manual Emergency Call, a feature that allows for quick access to customer specialists at the touch of a button; Roadside Assistance, for added peace-of-mind in the event of trouble on the road; and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which uses VW Car-Net Security & Service to assist law enforcement with locating your vehicle in the event that it is stolen.

In addition, VW Car-Net Security & Service offers remote vehicle access, remote door lock and unlock, remote honk and flash of lights, last parked location information, and remote status check (doors and windows). Consumers will also be able to send a location from their connected compatible smart device to the factory-installed compatible navigation system on select models. For consumers who prefer a more personal touch, agent destination assist is also available.

VW Car-Net Security & Service also includes Family Guardian, which offers features such as: speed alert, which notifies the owner of the vehicle when the pre-determined maximum speed limit is exceeded; and boundary alert, which lets you know when the vehicle has traveled outside of a pre-set virtual boundary.

Diagnostics and maintenance information is also available through VW Car-Net Security & Service. In addition to the vehicle's warning and indicator lights, a Vehicle Health Report provides customers easy access to diagnostic information. When it's time for scheduled service, VW Car-Net Security & Service not only notifies the customer, but provides a simple way to schedule a dealer visit. It can even identify the closest dealer in case owners need a recommendation.

The available VW Car-Net app for smartwatch (supports select Apple WatchTM and Android WearTM operating systems) allows VW customers to control a host of Security & Service features and functions available through the iPhoneTM and AndroidTM apps and Customer Web Portal, directly from their wrist. Smartwatch wearers can keep tabs on their vehicle, remotely locking and unlocking doors and viewing the status of doors, windows and sunroof (open or closed). These consumers can also find a parked vehicle more quickly, with a map of the current vehicle location, and get walking or driving directions to the vehicle. Drivers can check their fuel level and receive alerts with a compatible smartwatch.

Powertrain

The Golf features a compact turbocharged and direct-injection 1.8-liter four-cylinder EA888 TSI® gasoline engine. The latest EA888 engine family and has a state-of-the-art design that uses intelligent downsizing to deliver excellent power and torque as well as efficiency. The TSI engine is mated to either a traditional five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® that is optional on Golf S and SE trims. The Golf's turbocharged 1.8-liter EA888 engine produces 170 horsepower at 4,500 rpm, and with the 6-speed automatic transmission, torque peaks at 199 pound-feet (184 pound-feet with the 5-speed manual transmission) with the broad torque band starting at 1,600 rpm and lasting until 4,400 rpm.

EPA-estimated fuel economy is currently pending EPA certification, but models equipped with the five-speed manual are expected to be rated around 25 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway. Models equipped with the optional six-speed automatic are expected to be rated around 24 mpg in city driving and 33 mpg on the highway. These estimates are preliminary, and official EPA estimates will be available later this Fall.

Chassis

The Golf models' stamped steel body and chassis boasts a large percentage high-strength, hot-formed steel. This technology allows much of the chassis and body to be constructed from thinner and lighter parts without loss in strength.

The Golf features a strut-type front suspension. At the back, the Golf has a multilink arrangement with coil springs, telescopic dampers, and an anti-roll bar. The rack-and-pinion steering features electric power assist and features a 13.6 to one ratio that allows for 2.76 turns from lock to lock.

All 2018 Golf models are equipped with the XDS® Cross Differential System, which acts somewhat like an electronic substitute for a traditional mechanical limited-slip differential, working by actively monitoring data from each wheel sensor. If the suspension becomes unloaded, the system automatically applies braking to the driven inside wheel as needed to help reduce understeer (the tendency for the front wheels to run wide). This not only helps the Golf's stability, but also helps improve handling and cornering performance.

Safety

To help protect occupants, the Golf provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. The Golf has been engineered to meet or exceed all current crash regulations and features six airbags as standard, along with a number of electronic and mechanical safety systems.

The seventh-generation Golf braking system involves substantial 11.3-inch vented front discs and 10.7-inch solid rear discs with standard three-channel ABS with electronic brake pressure distribution. All Golf models are equipped with standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

A standard feature on the 2018 Golf models is Volkswagen's Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. This builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System helps address this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.

The Golf also includes Volkswagen's Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.

Driver Assistance

The Golf offers a standard rearview camera and number of available driver assistance systems, including Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist) and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert.

Front Assist, standard on SE models, helps warn drivers of potential frontal collisions (Forward Collision Warning) with vehicles, and in some cases can provide automatic braking assistance (Autonomous Emergency Braking). Pedestrian Monitoring will be added mid-model year.

Within physical system limits, Forward Collision Warning helps warn the driver of critical front-end collision situations, both acoustically and visually by a warning symbol in the instrument cluster above 18 mph. If the driver fails to brake, or if the car is below 18 mph, Autonomous Emergency Braking is activated to help slow the vehicle. If the brake pedal is applied but the driver brakes too lightly, the brake pressure is increased by the system (Braking Support).

Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert is standard on SE models. Blind Spot Monitor uses two radar sensors at the rear of the vehicle to scan the approaching traffic and can help warn drivers of potential danger in adjacent lanes. If the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change while a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the system utilizes a flashing LED symbol in the outer area of the side mirrors. Even if the driver does not use a turn signal, the LED symbol in the mirror will illuminate if a vehicle is detected in the blind spot. The system is designed to help alert drivers in specific situations; stationary objects or oncoming vehicles do not trigger warnings, nor will vehicles more than one lane across away from the vehicle.

The Rear Traffic Alert system helps detect vehicles approaching from the side that may be difficult for the driver to see while reversing. It offers a sizable range of about 65 feet, and will present a visual and an acoustic warning, before applying the brakes if a potential impending collision is detected. If the driver does not react, the system can apply the brakes to help mitigate and, in the best case, prevent a collision. The system is activated by putting the car in reverse.

Warranty

For the 2018 model year, Volkswagen Golf models in the Únited States will come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which can be transferred to subsequent owners throughout its duration.

The six-year/72,000-mile People First Warranty includes powertrain coverage for engines, transmissions and optional 4Motion® all-wheel-drive systems. Additionally, all the elements of the People First Warranty can be transferred to subsequent owners for up to six years or 72,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date it was first sold new.

Most mainstream competitors to the Volkswagen brand in the Únited States such as Honda, Toyota and Ford offer only a three-year/36,000 mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty on their cars and SÚVs. While Hyundai and Kia offer a five-year/60,000 mile basic warranty and a higher time and mileage limit on their powertrain limited warranties, if the vehicle is sold to a second owner, the powertrain limited warranty is not transferable beyond five years or 60,000 miles from the date it was first sold new.

Source - Volkswagen